This year I volunteered to be a minion. I was lucky enough to be picked by a co-host I know and follow and enjoy – but I am waiting for her to make the announcement herself before I do. I can't wait to see what our badge looks like. So far - what I've seen - the badges are pretty cool looking for each group!

I got so excited that I created a sub-header just for the April challenge. Yes it gives away the best part of my challenge topics but that’s the best part. I really wanted something that blatantly lets everyone know what I am presenting each day thru the month of April - if they miss The Big Reveal blogfest I mentioned above.

they know right off the bat what I’m doing

visitors can decide to keep reading my posts or skip it – no hurt feelings

and, well, I think it’s rocks

Turn off your CAPTCHA! I have blogged about this recently and it cannot be stressed enough - at least for the month of April. I promise Blogger will catch the spammers.

Also, Shannon posted about adding a Hyperlink Signature to your comments. This makes returning a comment faster and easier. Check it out and see if it is something that you would like to add to your routine during A to Z.

EXPRESS YOURSELF MEME

Throughout April,Jackie and I will be continuing our Express Yourself Meme. How? We are not quite sure yet but we will keep you posted and we promise it will be easy. Perhaps as simple as: What is your favorite letter this week? Easy, right? Right!

You want to join? Click on the Tab above and sign up - it's a one time sign up.

Also... March's EYM posts are...

Stop back on Friday for TWO BLOGFEST/HOPS and CELEBRATE the SMALL THINGS meme!

"'And so the lion fell in love with the lamb...,' he murmured. I looked away, hiding my eyes as I thrilled to the word.'What a stupid lamb,' I sighed.'What a sick, masochistic lion.'"- Edward and Bella"Hey vampire girl."- Embry Call

And again in the woods when Bella tells Edward what he is. Blah, blah, blah. Of course I loved parts of the books and watched the movies. But there is some cringe worthy moments for sure.

On the other hand you have the quotes that everyone recognizes.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."- Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, Book 1, Chapter 1

"What man has joined, nature is powerless to put asunder."- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 2And of course I have and love tons of quotes that I could list here but instead I'm going to list a character that has the best one-liners EVER!

Aphrodite LaFont from the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. Like every series I love parts and I hate parts. BUT... I L.O.V.E. love Aphrodite from her b-tchy one-liner slammers to her more serious, kind ones. Mostly she's a straight up b witch but she totally appeals to my more feisty side.

"My cat is not insane, she's just a really good actress""Hey, Venus, I have two words for you, Re. Bound. Good luck with that""Oh for craps sake. You're not dying again, are you? It's seriously inconvenient when you do that.""Dorkamese twins""Nerd herd"“Oh for shit’s sake. This isn’t Hogwarts,” “Well, that’s a miracle. Someone call the Vatican,”

Have a great Monday
If you have signed up then you do NOT need to sign up again. It's a one time sign up Linky.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Today - ALL DAY - I will not be at home, or sitting in my cubicle at work. I will be at a companywide meeting in some huge room with over 700+ co-workers. Our workplace does this every year. It's quite boring but we get free food all day, alcohol at the end of the day, and BONUS's! So I mean it's not all bad. Unfortunately this means I cannot blog-a-round today and visit and leave comments but I promise that I WILL stop by!

Each Friday, post in your blog something you wish to celebrate | achieve | do that week. It can be anything from writing | reading | simple life thing as cleaning out a sock drawer.

This week I celebrate...

I finished an audio version of Wither bk 1 of the Chemical Garden series by Lauren DeStefano which turned out to be a pleasant surprise and book 2 (audio); Fever is on hold at the library and book 3; Sever in the background. I like to audio so I can get a few books in at work.

I started Deadline (book 2) of the Newsflesh series by Mira Grant but it's a slow read. Not because it's an awful book but because it's not an easy one. See the difference? It has a lot of mystery and subplots on top of subplots and I don't want to miss anything. Blackout is in the waiting. Book 1; Feed, was fantastic!

I took a half day off on Monday and spent it will the kids. It was fun to spend a little extra time with them!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

I have decided to post a little Flash Fiction piece. Ugh my stomach hurts... I love writing FF but I really hate sharing it for fear of - Idk - being laughed at. I know... insecurities... but I have to remember courage.

So here it is...

Time For a Change

She felt her eyes growing wild with fear, her pulse vaulting through her body. Her knees and legs growing weaker by the second and yet, he stood there at the top of the lane waiting on her. Sonofabitch.

“I – I can’t do this anymore, York.” Ripping out her ear buds she pushes past him.

He follows but not too closely. “You say this every day. I’ve told you a million times you don’t have to do this to yourself, Lara.”

Her eyes no wider than slits, she glances over her shoulder at him as she plods in to the house.

“Don’t look at me like that. We’ve been doing this same dance for ten years now. All you have to do is let me turn you and you no longer need to run laps around the damn block to keep yourself in shape. You are going to run yourself into the grave before I have the chance to spend eternity with you.” His fingers grip her arm, flinging her around so her lips barely brush his own. “Don’t you want to be with me forever?” It is hardly a whisper.

Lara’s knees finally give in. York cradles her lower back in the contours of his arms. Her feet dangles a few inches off the ground. Their eyes, level.

“You know I’m not ready to change. I’m only twenty-three. What will my parents say when I stop aging?” Lara blinks her eyes trying to clear them from their York-induced-pheromone-haze.

“My love, you know well enough that humans see us only as we wish them to see. So stop trying to pull that card.” York nuzzles his face in her neck.

God, Lara loved that. Shivers travel the length of her body, starting where his tongue met her collarbone. “I – I know.” Dizziness fills her head. “Just like when we met, you glamoured yourself to appear to be fifteen when you are twenty-five.”

He laughs near her ear causing her body to stir more. “Technically I’m a few centuries old,” he purrs.

He adores it when her pulse pumps harder underneath his lips. He knows what he has to do. She won’t like it much but he is willing to sacrifice a little to gain a lot. So what if she gets pissed. He’s tired of waiting. Even if she leaves him she can’t go far, he will be her maker which will bind them endlessly.

“Until I’m ready, I’m gonna run, and diet, so I can keep my girlish figure for when I am prepared. I’ve never seen a fat vampyre. Have you?”

“Do you like your body now then?” His tongue lightly tracing the vein along her neck.

“Yes,” she breaths. “York, you’re squeezing me.”

And he does. His arms embarrass his lover, and now his prey. After all these years he has hit his breaking point. In the next few minutes she will no longer be his human courtesan, but his immortal consort.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Oh today is Monday and I clocked into work late. That's just blankin' great!

Anyways... since it's Monday and that means Express Yourself is here! Jackie and I want to know: Who is/are your favorite couple(s)? They can be fictional, historical, or even present day.

JFK and Jackie - Gossip aside, look at them, they are picture perfect. I would've loved to have known them back in the day.

Catcher and Gabry - These two love-struck runaways can't even follow through with their feelings. One is a carrier and the other one could contract it in Carrie Ryan's The Dead-Tossed Waves and The Dark and Hollow Places; Books 2 and 3 of The Forest of Hands and Teeth series.

Alice and Carlos Olivera - The kickass couple of the Resident Evil franchise.

Stevie Rae and Rephaim - From the House of Night series. I really want to know what "birdboy" looks like as a boy cause Stevie and him really have this wonderful bond.

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge - I don't care how cliché that sounds... I find them absolutely fascinating!Lenobia and Travis - The two horse lovers met in Destined, the 9th installment of P.C. & Kristin Cast's House of Night series.Four and Tris - from Divergent by Veronica Roth.

Sometimes I read series for their couples. Other times its for their hot guys. And then I like to continue reading them because of their awesome plot.

Who are your faves when it comes to couples whether they be fictional, historical, or even present day?

I got a lot of finacial business out of the way, and within the next few weeks or so I should be on my way to selling the two vehicles I currently own and purchasing a new one outright! It took a lot of hard work but it's finally paying off.

I watched Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Oh my gosh I cried half of the time. I had been holding off watching this film just for that reason, but it was an incredible movie! The boy told an amazing story which moved me. It was powerful beyond words. A must watch but don't forget your tissues!

Been in cahoots this week so expect some impending blogfests from my chum Jackie and I in the upcoming months (NOT April).

So how was your week? Any news worth celebrating?! Oh I'm sure you do!Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Ok... so it's not AA cause I still have a drinking problem but I'm getting braver with my writing!

I'm kidding, I'm kidding!

I only drink occassionally - when my writing is ticking me off and the kids won't stop screaming.

Pfft! I'm joshin' ya!

The only way I can write (cause I suck) is to drink and my kids are never around. Wait... is that even right? Gosh how much of this have I drank?

Hmmm... back on point... Liquid Writing Courage.

What makes a King out of a slave?

Courage.

What makes the flag on the mast to wave?

Courage.

What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist or the dusky dusk?

What makes the muskrat guard his musk?

Courage.

What makes the Sphinx the 7th Wonder?

Courage.

What makes the dawn come up like THUNDER?!

Courage.

What makes the Hottentot so hot?What puts the "ape" in ape-ricot?Whatta they got that I ain't got?

Courage!

You can say that again.

Cowardly Lion - Wizard of Oz

I do have to say the first poster by John Bingham is so true to me as a writer. I am great at starting a writing project and that's as far as it has gotten so far, and I'm ok with that. I think my fear of finishing is that my story will come to an end, and to me, that is hard to swallow. It's a sad thought don't you think? One day... one day I will finish.

The Cowardly Lion's speech has always been my favorite. I just love to say it over and over to myself.﻿ You should try saying it to yourself right be for addressing an audience, game or test, etc. It really gets you pumped!

Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know has a SERIOUS drinking problem please seek help for them. You could save a life.All of my drinking banter is for fun. Period. I do not drink often nor around children and I am always safe. Be the DD if no one else will. Thank you!

Monday, February 4, 2013

This week on American Bandst- No kidding, kidding - Express Yourself, Jackie and myself are interested in: Who your Character Crushes are?

I am so glad we didn't put a number on this bad boy cause I would have a hard time narrowing it down. I would also be lying on the floor pitching a fit - cause I can.

In no particular order since I will take anyone of them whenever...

Dimitri Belikov - hails from Richelle Mead'sVampire Academy series. A strigoi killing God. I would let him whisper sweet nothings in his Russian accent all night - every night.

Jasper Hale - a side character in Stephenie Meyer'sTwilight Saga. I was never a huge fan of the first book but the series did get better with progression. Jasper was my favorite. I love Jackson Rathbone and his little baseball bat trick in the movie made me swoon and by far the only part of the movie that I liked. I know - how girly. However, I could kill who ever dressed him like Mr. Rogers throughout the films. Really?

Noah Calhoun - love sick counterpart of Nicholas Sparks'The Notebook. I love Noah in the book and Ryan Gosling even more in the movie. "Get in the water!" Who doesn't want a love like that?

Richard B. Riddick aka Riddick - featured in all the Riddick movies. Duh! This Furya is nothing close to the romance department but like I've mentioned before, I'm not too much of a girly girl and would prefer badasses any day of the week. Rescue me, don't rescue, I'll chase after you anyways. Plus Vin is HOT!

Louis de Pointe du Lac - the anti Lestat de Lioncourt of Anne Rice'sInterview with the Vampire. Louis is a vamp with a conscience. He makes my heart swoon to be bit. Seriously! I'd want to walk around a thousand years as long as it was with Louis... or Brad Pitt playing Louis. Yeah that would be good.

Patch Cipriano - fallen angel in Becca Fitzpatrick'sHush Hush series had me gasping with lust as soon as my eyes read those first few lines. This is an angel that can fall right in to my lap any day.

Romeo - but not any Shakepeare inspired Romeo. I'm in love with Leo DiCaprio's version in Romeo + Juliet. I just love that movie. PERIOD!

Wolverine - do you know how handy he would be to have around? I have always been a comic fan. I get it from my dad who got me into comics when I was little. X-men were always my favorite! Plus Hugh Jackman is one mighty fine, ripped, sexy - ok I'm gonna stop myself there.

Nine is an odd number so I have to make it even and my next choice might come off a little odd but I can't leave out a sexy female character - can I?

Selene - based loosely off the Marvel comic character of the same name, is portrayed by Kate Beckinsale in the Underworld film series. Species: Human - vamp - vamp-corvinus strain hybrid. She is one sexy former Death Dealer! "May I come in?" Of course you can...

Friday, February 1, 2013

Each Friday, post in your blog something you wish to celebrate achieving / doing that week. It can be anything from writing to reading to a simple life thing as cleaning out a sock drawer.

This week I celebrate...

Actually enjoying this week. I had a good week even though I stayed home with vertigo yesterday (no biggie - to happens with sudden weather change and my inner ears). It's nice to look back on a week and think 'Huh, nothing dramatic happened. Everything went off w/out a hitch. Life is good!'

Being home yesterday led me to Amazon which led me to ordering a new case for my iPhone, a new case for my sons iPhone (one of those that looks like an old game boy) and two new cases for my daughters iPod (she turns 13 on Monday so they are for her bday). Plus I downloaded 6 or 7 new kindle books! Yay for new reads!

I'm still a little dizzy but I made it back to work and I'm blogging - you can't ask for anything more than feeling better.

So how are you doing this week? Come celebrate the small things!

Next week starts the new month of Express YourselfMeme. Go here and sign up if you haven't already and read what it's all about. Don't forget you only need to SIGN UP ONCE. No need to sign up each week. Once you've done it, you're in my friend. Here is February's weekly topic badge...

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I will be celebrating a NEW teenagers birthday by taking her shopping.